Great LSU Football Wins in the last 50 years

LSU 41 Notre Dame 14, Sugar Bowl, January 3, 2007, New Orleans, Louisiana


This wasn’t the Rose Bowl, but it was usually the best thing for Tiger fans, which is the Sugar Bowl. Most of the time it meant winning the SEC Title, but this was a different year. On the first Saturday in December, USC, which appeared headed for a National Championship match up with Ohio State, was shocked by their crosstown rivals, the UCLA Bruins, 13-9. It denied the Trojans a shot at their 2nd outright National Title in 4 years. If you listen to many pundits it would have been a 3rd National Title in 4 years. Some refuse to give credit to LSU’s BCS National Title in 2003. USC was great that year, but so was LSU and both were deserving. We will never know who would have won between the two, but LSU would have enjoyed a huge advantage in the Superdome as would the Trojans if the game would’ve been played in Pasedena.



When Florida defeated Arkansas for the SEC Title, it opened the door for the Gators to vault past the Michigan Wolverines into the BCS Title Game in Glendale, Arizona. Many Big 10 land cried foul, but later results proved their complaint meaningless. LSU appeared headed for a match with the Wolverines in the Rose Bowl. Fans placed orders for 42,000 tickets. This was before all of the events of Saturday, December 2, 2006. If Arkansas had prevailed that day, then LSU would still have played in Pasedena. It would just have been against USC instead. That would have been interesting. Things worked out for LSU to play tradtional media poster boy, the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame.



There was much hoopla leading up to the game, but Nick “I will not be the Alabama coach” Saban agreed to the largest salary ever for a college football coach to run the Crimson Tide program on the day of the game. It conjured up memories of Paul Dietzel’s “I will never leave LSU “ pronouncements of the late 50’s and early 60’s. At least Dietzel left for the United States Military Academy, Saban left for the Dolphins and went to rival, Alabama. Dietzel would later regret his move and there are thoughts of what might have been at LSU had Dietzel coached for 15 more years in Baton Rouge. However, LSU was well served by Charlie McClendon during those years as they will be by Les Miles for many years to come. McClendon was a man of character and integrity throughout his life, Miles is the same. Saban may regret leaving LSU one day, especially on November 3rd of 2007.



I am dissappointed that Saban left the Dolphins to coach against the Tigers. I feel he may have a credibility problem for a while because of it, but things become a distant memory at time goes by, and if he wins big at the Capstone, this will fade except for Tiger fans. He went from being St. Nick to being the biggest pariah in the state of Louisiana, but let’s not forget, he did revive the program and put LSU football back on the map. For that we owe him a huge debt of gratitude. On the flip side, he was a solid coach when he came to LSU, and the situation in Baton Rouge and the talent level in Louisiana made it possible for him to succeed beyond his wildest dreams. LSU is the flagship university of Louisiana and the Bayou state produces some of the best talent nationwide. It was a great partnership for both. When we look back years from now, we will both appreciate each other more. I do believe, however, that Les Miles will enjoy great success also and will win a National Championship at LSU before he retires.



Well, they had a ball game to play, and LSU got on top early. The Tigers stopped an Irish fake punt deep in Notre Dame territory. LSU scored quickly and added another score to go up 14-0. The Irish fought back and tied the score at 14. It appeared that the Tigers had squandered a golden opportunity, but Jamarcuss Russell lead the Tigers on a scoring drive just before halftime to put them up 21-14 as Russell scored on a Quarterback draw. There was still an uneasy feeling at halftime, and it continued as the Tigers appeared to turn the ball over deep in their territory to begin the 2nd half, but a replay overturned that. It was in my opinion, the biggest play of the game. Russell drove them down the field for field goal to make it 24-14. The Bayou Bengals added another field goal to make it 27-14, but the Irish was still withing striking distance, but Russell uncorked around a 65 yard bomb to Brandon Laefell to put the Tigers up 41-21 and Keiland Williams added touchdown run to close out the scoring at 41-14. Believe me, the game was not as close as the score indicated. LSU was far superior.



LSU 48 Virginia Tech 7, Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, La. Sept 8, 2007

A national television audience along with 92,000 plus fans awaited the kickoff of the much anticipated match between LSU and Virginia Tech. ESPN’s Game Day had been on campus all day. There were many storylines to this game. Fresh in the mind of many was the unspeakable tragedy of last April 16, 2007 as a crazed gunman shot and killed 32 students. Louisiana was still in the throes of the carnage of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita from two years before. Louisianians joined the rest of the nation in mourning Virginia Tech’s loss. On April 16, 2007, we were all Hokies.



LSU started the fireworks off with an 87 yard drive, which was punctuated by a 28 yard shovel pass from Matt Flynn to Jacob Hester. Hester would go in from 4 yards out on the game’s next play to go up 7-0.



LSU would go 85 yards on their next drive with the highlight of the drive being a 56 yard pass completion from Flynn to Brandon Lafell. Flynn would run it from 7 yards out to put the Tigers up 14-0. There were still about 5 minutes left in the 2nd quarter. The Tigers were showing the nation they were deserving of the pre-season #2 ranking.



A Craig Steltz interception lead to a 30 yard Colt David field goal on the as the 2nd quarter began. LSU now lead 17-0, but they were not finished for the half. Keiland Williams electrified the crowd with an acrobatic 67yard touchdown run. He took a pitch and headed right. He hurdled a Hokie defender and outraced everyone to the end zone to put the Tigers up 24-0.



At the beginning of the 3rd quarter LSU drove 45 yards, but had to settle for a 28 yard Colt David field goal to go up 27-0. Tyrod Taylor marched Virginina Tech 65 yards with the aid of a 37 yard scramble and would score on a one yard plunge to make in 27-7 LSU. LSU responded with drive of their own. Ryan Perrilloux would come into the game, and in a change of pace move, he would fake the run and find a wide open Early Doucet to make it 34-7 Tigers.



Keiland Williams added a 34 yard touchdown to cap off another 87 yard touchdown drive and Ryan Perrilloux would hit freshman phenom, Terrance Tolliver on a 28 yard late in the game to provide LSU with a resounding 48-7 triumph over the Hokies.



This victory would pay huge dividends for LSU on BCS selection Sunday as the Tigers would leapfrog the Hokies to make it to the Title Game. The Tigers earned much national respect with this victory.



Fans eagerly awaited the rest of 2007.

Henin edges Sharapova at French Open

PARIS (AP): Four-time champion Justine Henin advanced to the fourth round of the French Open by outslugging Maria Sharapova 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 on Sunday.

 

The two former No. 1s played the seesaw final set after the match was suspended late Saturday because of darkness. The pivotal moment came when Henin fell behind 0-2, love-40, then overcame four break points to hold

She soon led 4-2, broke again for a 5-3 lead and served out the victory.

The result extended Henin's winning streak at Roland Garros to 24 matches. It was the first meeting between the two rivals since Henin spent 20 months in retirement before mounting a comeback this year.

On a windy, chilly and damp afternoon, both players took ferocious swings from the baseline and charged forward when they had the chance. Sharapova pumped her fist after almost every point she won - and often before points.

 

Henin found herself on the defensive at first, then began finding the corners, forcing Sharapova to hit on the run.

The showdown occurred early in the tournament because Sharapova was seeded 12th and Henin - climbing in the rankings since her return - is 22nd. Their nine previous meetings - Henin won six - all came in the quarterfinals or later.

Henin next plays No. 7 Samantha Stosur.

In fourth-round play, No. 5 Elena Dementieva beat unseeded Chanelle Scheepers 6-1, 6-3. No. 17 Francesca Schiavone defeated No. 30 Maria Kirilenko 6-4, 6-4.

Teen Scares Off Burglar With Samurai Sword

HIALEAH, Fla. -- A teenager with a brown belt in karate used a samurai sword to scare off a burglar who was after his PlayStation 3 video game console.

Last Friday afternoon, Damian Fernandez and his 15-year-old sister, Deanne Fernandez, were home alone at their northwest Miami-Dade County home while their parents were at work when they heard knocking on the front door. Moments later, two men were prying the front door unlocked, prompting Deanne to hide in her closet.

"I was so scared," she said.

As her brother slept in the next room, the burglars ransacked their parents' room, taking some jewelry before moving on to what they were really after -- a PlayStation 3.

According to a police report, one of the burglars kicked in Deanne's bedroom door. She said she could see his foot through the closet panels.

The burglar found the empty PlayStation 3 box and ran out of the room, but Damian was waiting for him.

"Once I saw him take off running back, I jumped off my (bunk) bed and I grabbed my sword … and I just waited for him," he said.

Damian said he lunged at him with his samurai sword, striking him in the chest.

"He freaked out," Damian said.

The burglar ran out of the house with Damian chasing him down the road. When police arrived, a K-9 officer located the burglar hiding behind a neighbor's palm tree. The second burglar got away.

Javier Cotera, 21, was arrested and released early the next morning on bond.

Local 10 attempted to contact Cotera at his Hialeah home, but his family said he wasn't there and that they didn't know anything about it.

Damian and Deanne's father, Delio Fernandez, said he is concerned Cotera is out of jail.

"If he would have had a gun, I could have lost one of my children," he said.

Cotera is scheduled to appear in court in two weeks to face three felony charges.

Joe Hart on 'three-horse' England keeper race

How football healed Honduras

Reaching the World Cup united a nation in political turmoil Page last updated at 09:42 GMT, Wednesday, 26 May 2010 10:42 UK

Joe Hart on 'three-horse' England keeper race

AdvertisementFollowing Monday's friendly against Mexico, Manchester City and England keeper Joe Hart says that manager Fabio Capello "keeps his cards close to his chest" and that he doesn't know which of the three possible England keepers the Italian will select to play in the World Cup.

Unions ask companies to let staff watch WCup games

LONDON (AP)—Britain’s trade unions are asking companies to let employees watch the World Cup at work to prevent them from faking sickness during England matches.

The Trade Union Council says companies should allow televisions in the workplace or introduce flexible working hours during the June 11-July 11 World Cup.

England’s group matches against the United States and Algeria are scheduled to kickoff in the evening but its June 23 game with Slovenia starts at 3 p.m. in Britain (1400 GMT).

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber says banning employees from watching football would “run the risk of demotivating staff and losing hours through unauthorized sick days.”

Champions League: Mourinho, Van Gaal chase more glory

MADRID: Jose Mourinho is looking to bring long-awaited European glory back to Inter Milan on Saturday, and Louis van Gaal is aiming to guide Bayern Munich to a fifth title in Europe's most prestigious club competition.
The coaches in the Champions League final have won 28 major titles combined, and this year Mourinho will put his reputation as one of the game's best coaches on the line against an experienced manager who has won league titles with four different clubs in three countries.
Mourinho, who led Chelsea to its first English league title in 50 years, is out to lead one of European football's biggest clubs to its first European Cup triumph since 1965. He will do so amid strong speculation that he will then walk out on the Italian club and move to Real Madrid.
Mourinho has won six league titles in Portugal, England and Italy among his 13 major successes, and the 47-year-old self-proclaimed “Special One” is one of the most sought after coaches in the game.
“In Porto we won UEFA Cup, (league) championship and Portuguese Cup. The next year we won (European) Super Cup, championship and Champions League, so we did all three,” Mourinho said during the buildup to Saturday's final.
But despite two Premier League titles in a row, the Portuguese coach failed to achieve Champions League success with Chelsea and left the club, unhappy that Russian owner Roman Abramovich was making transfer decisions without his approval.
He eventually took over an Inter side which had dominated Serie A but failed in Europe. The owners wanted someone to end that long wait for another European Cup.
“This would be an incredible achievement because the level of the competition is so high and our road to the final was an incredible road,” said Mourinho, whose team had to play defending champion Barcelona both in the group stage and the semi-finals.
Inter also beat Chelsea home and away, and his former club went on to win both the Premier League and FA Cup.
“It was an incredibly difficult way to get to the final,” Mourinho said.
Bayern also had a tough route to the final but capitalized on a little good fortune along the way.
On the brink of going out, Bayern came from behind to knock out Juventus in the group phase after a 4-1 win away from home. A disputed goal from Miroslav Klose gave Bayern a 2-1 first leg lead over Fiorentina, and the German side advanced on away goals in the first knockout round.
Bayern again appeared to be on the way out when it trailed Manchester United 3-0 in the second leg at Old Trafford. But the German club scored two to again go through on away goals.
Bayern went on to beat Lyon and reach its eighth final, then stretched its Bundesliga record number of titles to 22 and outplayed Werder Bremen 4-0 in the German Cup final. Back in November, however, Bayern was in eighth place in the Bundesliga, on the brink of being knocked out of the Champions League. Van Gaal sensed then that his time was short.
“If I don't produce, I will be fired,” the 58-year-old Bayern coach said at the time.
The Dutchman won the Champions League with Ajax in 1995, so both he and Mourinho are out to join Ernst Happel (Feyenoord 1970 and Hamburg 1983) and Ottmar Hitzfeld (Borussia Dortmund 1997 and Bayern 2001) as winners with two different clubs.
Bayern's players have called on all fans of Bundesliga clubs to get behind the team on Saturday because a triumph would earn the nation four spots in next season's competition and Serie A would lose one.
Both teams are missing key players. Inter is without Brazil defensive midfielder Thiago Motta and Bayern won't have France winger Franck Ribery. Both were sent off in the semi-finals.
Inter has won repeated Italian titles with barely any Italians on its starting lineup and a side packed with talented and hugely experienced players from Brazil and Argentina, and a creative Dutch midfielder in Wesley Sneijder.
Van Gaal's team has a strong Dutch influence, too, with Arjen Robben and Marc van Bommel playing alongside Germany internationals Bastian Schweinsteiger and Philipp Lahm.
English referee Howard Webb will take charge of his first Champions League final. Although a familiar face in the competition for the past few years, he has missed out on the final because Premier League clubs have made it to the previous five, making him ineligible.

Holders Equatorial Guinea launch defence against Namibia

African champions, Equatorial Guinea will launch their campaign for a place at the 7th CAF Women’s Championship, South Africa 2010, against Namibia in Windhoek this weekend.
The holders, who drew a bye at the prelims, will face the Female Brave Warriors, 3-2 winners over Angola at the initial stages.
Head coach Clémentine Touré will be relying on playmaker Gennoveva Anonma of German club, USV Jena amongst others to record an impressive outing against the Namibians.
Five-time African champions, the Super Eagles of Nigeria will be away in Abidjan as guests of their Ivorian counterparts, just as the Ghana’s Black Queens, who trek Dakar to face the Teranga Lionesses of Senegal.
In Conakry, Guinea will face their toughest competition yet in the qualifying series against Mali. The Lady Sylis eased past Sierra Leone 4-3 on aggregate at the preliminaries and will be hoping to add the Malians to their list of victims.
Tanzania will host Eritrea ion Dar-es-Salaam whilst DR Congo clash with Cameroon in Kinshasa.
In Algiers, the Lady Fennecs will battle it out with their Tunisian counterparts.
The second leg matches are billed for the weekend of June 4-6 with the winners after both legs joining hosts South Africa for the finals slated for October.